Wednesday, 8 June 2016

Where Is Your Art Taking YOU? All On Board the Train!

Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh ExpressWouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh ExpressThey’re taking me to MarrakeshAll on board the train, all on board the trainAll on board – Graham Nash

We are in a cycle of dark dreary days filled with rain and humidity.
Not the most advantageous to inspire creativity on these late Spring
days. I needed an escape! I wanted the sun! I wanted warmth! I wanted
exotic locations! With a bit of imagination and the best tools at my
disposal I magically escaped the monotonous and travelled into a world of
colour and exploration.

Opening the box from Artistcellar that arrived at my door was like
grabbing my passport and getting on board to an exciting journey!
Included with the supplies was the CHRIS COZEN - PLAYFUL PODS SERIES
stencils. As with all of the Artistcellar stencils, they are made to
last and perform perfectly with a variety of media. Clean up is quick
and easy, leaving the stencil in like-new condition. Lately I have heard a lot about the use of Rubber Cement. It seems to be
the “go to” everyone is discussing…from Google+ Communities to Workshop
details that land in my Inbox.

I selected the Bodacious Pods
stencil from the series. They reminded me so much of Moroccan
pouffes…the lovely Ottoman footstools that take lounging to the pinnacle
of relaxation. In my collection is an exquisite image of Sir Francis
Bernard Dicksee’s "Leila", which I purchased on a Digital Collage Sheet.
The woman, painted in the Oriental style, at last found a home.

My idea was to give the art a rough, almost sun worn finish similar
to the buildings I photographed in Marrakesh. I chose a heavy
watercolour paper for the substrate. I dabbed the rubber cement through
the stencil with my fingers…varying the amount from thick to thin,
hoping this application would produce a mottled effect when covered with
paint.

The rubber cement dried relatively quickly, even for impatient me. As
an impulse buy, I recently purchased pearlescent watercolours. I go
weak in the knees for anything with a shimmer, and the selection of
colours looked scrumptious. I covered the paper with a wash. I chose all
the gorgeous Bohemian colours available on my pallet: Hot Pink,
Vermilion Orange, Cyan Blue, Turquoise and Bright Violet! I blended the
colours using a tool new to me… The SAKURA KOI WATERBRUSH.
If you haven’t tried it you must! The brush is made of flexible nylon
fibers that are fed with water from a refillable reservoir. When I was
finished blending, the paper was once again set out to dry.

With my fingers and an eraser I removed the rubber cement. The result
was as I had hoped…patchy, worn, sun-kissed, with a dazzling
shimmer…just as I remember my travels in Morocco. It would be the
perfect home for Leila. I scanned the altered paper and revised the
image of the woman. I wanted to keep as much of the paper without
further alteration, so I only added Graham Nash’s lyrics…the inspiration
for the piece…surrounding her.

Art, I am sure you will agree, can take us to the places as far and as
wide as our imagination. With the proper tools at our fingertips we can
re-experience the wonders of travels past. Or we can dream of places
we’ve yet to see. Either way, won’t you join me? All on board the
train, all on board the train!

About Me

Artists, dancers, writers, and poets search for a Muse for guidance, inspiration, passion, and the spark of creativity.

As a member of Sisterhood of the Muse, my Blog is home to the work of artists, and like-minded souls, who hear her voice and allow the fascination to begin.

As a visual artist and dancer, I enjoy exploring the
seduction of spirit and following the journey wherever it may take me. Utilizing a variety of techniques, my work is a
convergence of the traditional with the digital...in both the visual and performing arts.

Above all, I am a great believer in Synchronicity and love the idea that it can lead to the most profound aha moments we can experience in life and in Art.

My desire is to share what inspires me, entertain those who choose to visit, and perhaps spark the sense of wonder and creativity that dwells in us all.